Chapter 413: One Pot

As Wei Quan stepped into the He family's front door, he saw Mrs. He's third brother swinging his fists and chasing after He Qingyuan, who was panting as he ran around the grape trellis.

No one knew where He Hao had hidden himself. Madam He, supported by her nanny, stood anxiously on the steps of the west wing and shouted loudly, "Stop hitting him, stop hitting him." Mrs. He, accompanied by her eldest sister-in-law from her natal family, sat on the beautiful lady's bed on the porch of the main house, crying and scolding He Qingyuan, "old and undisciplined" and "old and immortal." Mrs. He's brother who was the registrar did not come. Except for one of the nephews who slowly chased after He Qingyuan and others and shouted, "Uncle, let's talk nicely, but don't hurt your uncle," the other brothers and nephews gathered around to comfort Mrs. He, as if they had not seen what was happening in the yard.

Wei Quan shrugged and wanted to run away.

He Qingyuan had a sharp gaze and spotted Wei Quan at once, and hurriedly called out, "Bai Rui, come and help."

Wei Quan did not dare to offend He Qingyuan, nor did he dare to offend Mrs. He's family easily.

He walked up to Mrs. He's third brother, bowed and respectfully called him "Third Uncle".

Mrs. He is not going to divorce He Qingyuan. How could anyone from Mrs. He's family really beat up their own aunt?

If it weren't for Wei Quan, how could He Yuanqing, who is already so old, follow others and keep a mistress?

When Mrs. He's third brother saw him, he was filled with anger. Without saying a word, he punched Wei Quan in the face.

Wei Quan was caught off guard. He covered his face with his hands and staggered to the ground with a cry of "Ouch!"

"Such a good family business was ruined because of you, a troublemaker!" Mrs. He's third brother became furious when he saw him. He rode on Wei Quan angrily and beat him up.

He Qingyuan finally got rid of the reckless man, but he was still in shock and didn't care about Wei Quan. He hid far away beside the screen wall and shouted to the guards: "Are you all dead? You are useless people who only know how to eat and not work!"

Several guards ran out with fawning looks on their faces, followed by He Hao who had not shown up yet.

If it weren't for that little bastard snitching on me, how could my beauty disappear and be beaten up by my own uncle?

He Qingyuan cursed, "You little bastard, are you happy to see your father getting beaten?" and then raised his hand and slapped He Hao in the face.

Madam He screamed.

He Hao screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

Mrs. He didn't care about crying or cursing anymore. She shouted, "He Qingyuan, you dare to hit my son? I will fight you." She picked up her skirt and rushed out of the corridor of the main house.

He Qingyuan was so frightened that he shivered. Just as he was thinking about running out to hide, he saw a seductive woman walking in from behind the screen wall.

He recognized that it was Wei Quan's lover, and was stunned. He asked in a deep voice: "How did you get in?"

The woman was originally from the courtyard, and had been with Wei Quan for only two or three months. Wei Quan did not intend to marry her, and her behavior still retained the habits of the courtyard. Upon hearing this, she first threw a coquettish eye at He Yuanqing, and then said, "I am here to find our man! The young man in the mansion knew me, so he let me in." She then said flatteringly, "What's wrong with Master He? The neighbors are all gathered at the gate..."

If the He family had not been the most powerful local gentry and had someone guarding the gate, those people would have surrounded their gate long ago.

He Qingyuan was so angry that his face turned purple. In his heart, he blamed Mrs. He for not showing any affection between husband and wife, and making him the laughing stock of Qingyuan County. He shouted at the gate: "How do you guard the gate? No matter whether it is fragrant or smelly, you put everything in. Do you think your life is too idle and want to be sold to the salt field to dry salt?"

As he was yelling, there was a commotion outside, and a dozen yamen runners suddenly rushed in with murderous intent and surrounded the entire yard.

Everyone in the yard was stunned.

Mrs. He stood in the middle of the yard with her mouth open. The fist of Mrs. He's third brother stopped in mid-air. The people chasing after Mrs. He were even more at a loss. In the huge yard, only Wei Quan's groans could be heard.

In this strange atmosphere, the Qingyuan County constable carefully followed the Qingyuan County chief clerk in.

Everyone who came was an acquaintance, which made everyone in the yard feel relieved.

Mrs. He's fourth brother even smiled and greeted him: "Sir, do you still remember me? I am the fourth son of the Dianshi family. What happened? I am sorry to trouble you to come in person. This is our aunt's house..."

While he was speaking, He Qingyuan had already slipped a fifty-liang silver note over to him.

The chief clerk, who had drunk wine with He Qingyuan yesterday, turned his face and threw the banknote in He Qingyuan's face. He also looked righteous and said solemnly: "The emperor breaks the law, and he is guilty of the same crime as the common people! The He family colluded with bandits and harmed the village. Don't say that you are relatives of the historian, even if you are relatives of the county lord, there is no reason to let you go." After that, he shouted to the yamen runners: "Why don't you tie up these accomplices for me!"

The people in the yard were dumbfounded.

However, those yamen runners rushed forward like wolves and tigers, arresting everyone they saw, no matter whether they were from the He family or Mrs. He's family.

Suddenly, the panicked screams of the women were heard in the yard.

Mrs. He's fourth brother was anxious and asked hurriedly: "What is going on? How could we collude with bandits..."

Even if they had committed a crime, there was absolutely no reason to arrest the women in the family as well.

The chief clerk sneered.

The Dianshi was in charge of the criminals and was the constable's top boss. Normally, the constable received a lot of filial piety from the He family. Upon seeing this, he pointed to the sky, indicating that instead of wasting time talking with the chief clerk here, it would be better for him to talk to the official who was his parent.

Although He Qingyuan and Mrs. He's fourth brother nodded to the constable with gratitude, they were extremely anxious in their hearts and felt that this matter was not simple.

The panicked voices of Wei Quan's fans rang out in the yard: "Why did you arrest me? I was just watching the excitement!"

Wei Quan also said: "We are just here to stop the fight, you have caught the wrong person!"

The arresting bailiff said coldly, "We have been ordered to arrest all living creatures in this yard. If you have any grievances, you can speak about them in the county jail."

Mrs. He's family had been officials for generations. Who in Qingyuan County did he not know? The yamen runner spoke in a stern voice and did not know anyone around him.

Mrs. He's fourth brother's heart sank.

He looked at He Qingyuan anxiously, and He Qingyuan's face was full of shock and anxiety. He could only smile at the chief clerk in a flattering manner and said, "Sir, you see, our sister-in-law and elder sister are just women..."

The chief clerk showed no mercy and said coldly, "Didn't I just tell you that all living things in this yard must be taken to the government office? Aren't they living things?"

Mrs. He's fourth brother's eyes widened immediately, thinking that he was now under someone else's roof and it was better not to suffer a loss, and his eldest brother was out there taking care of things, so he lowered his head and retreated.

Mrs. He's third brother didn't think so. He said to He Qingyuan, "What did you do? You even dragged our family into trouble! When you see your eldest brother later, I'll punch you first."

But when he entered the Qingyuan County prison, he was unable to utter a word - Mrs. He's brother, who was a registrar, had actually been imprisoned in the county prison before them.

"What's going on?" Mrs. He cried and rushed over.

"You ask me, who should I ask?" The Dianshi stared at He Qingyuan with a frosted face, "Who did you offend? Even the county lord warned you against it!"

"In business, we believe in harmony and wealth. How could I have offended anyone?" He Qingyuan said, and an idea suddenly occurred to him. "Did you offend someone? You can even move the county lord with your fingers. I don't think I have the ability to offend such a person!"

The two of them started arguing with each other.

Wei Quan, whose face was bruised and swollen like a pig's head, quietly pulled a prison guard he was familiar with and gave him some change, whispering, "Brother, please be kind and let me go. You know, I am just acquaintances with these two families."

They were locked up as soon as they came in, without even being tried in court.

The jailer put the silver in his waist, glanced at He Qingyuan's uncle who was quarreling fiercely, and whispered: "Who else can you trust? I'll help you pass on the message, but I can't do anything else! This case is handled by people sent by the government, even the yamen runners are sent from the government, and the county lord has to stand aside."

Everything is fine at home, why are you causing trouble?

Now it’s okay, I’ve gotten myself into it too.

If he was really accused of "colluding with bandits and harming neighbors", he would either be beheaded or exiled.

Wei Quan must be regretting his decision now.

Then the prison door was heard to slam, and several unfamiliar bailiffs came in, escorting Mrs. He's sister-in-law, nephews and nieces.

“Daddy!”

"Master!"

“Sister-in-law!”

There were cries and shouts in the cell, and for a moment it was as chaotic as a vegetable market.

Wei Quan couldn't help shaking.

What is this for?

Confiscating the property and exterminating the entire clan?

The He family is just a country gentry, and Mrs. He's family is just a hereditary official family. Do they have the qualifications?

"Who did the He family offend?" In the hottest days of summer, Wei Quan felt as if he had fallen into an ice hole, his teeth chattering.

※※※※※

Far away in Kyoto, Song Mo was standing in front of a large desk practicing calligraphy.

Xia Lian walked in quietly, bowed to Song Mo, and said carefully: "Everyone in Qingyuan County has been arrested. Lord Liu asked how to write a report to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple."

Song Mo put down his pen, took the handkerchief handed over by Wu Yi, wiped his hands, and said, "All the men will be exiled to Xining Guard, and all the women will be sold to the Jiaofang without any registration."

Xia Lian was not surprised. He responded in a low voice and stepped back.

Song Mo thought for a moment and told Wu Yi, "Go and call Lu Ming over."

Wuyi has been serving Song Mo for some time and knows that the more calm Song Mo appears, the more worried he is inside.

He left the study trembling.

After a while, Lu Ming came.

Song Mo said, "You escort those people from Qingyuan County to Xining for defense. Don't let Wei Quan and He Hao die on the way. I heard that sometimes there are not even military prostitutes in the northwest, so they just find some pretty girls to serve as prostitutes. These two people are just right for use."

Lu Ming lowered his eyebrows and nodded.

Song Mo was still feeling resentful, so he broke the pen into two pieces and threw it on the ground, then turned around and went to Bishuixuan.